The Center for Rehabilitation

What happens after an injury?

A serious injury, such as a broken leg or a neck injury, or a surgery can cause major changes in your life. Sometimes these changes are short-term and easy to recover from. Others may require a great deal of recovery time and intensive rehabilitation. Your path to recovery should be a journey made hand in hand with your doctor and therapist. The guidance and help of a skilled physician is important, regardless of your injury or condition needing surgery. Below are some examples.

Injury: Inflammation or tear of the rotator cuff in the shoulder
Cause: Repeated overhead movements
Treatment: A torn rotator cuff may be reparable with arthroscopic surgery
Recovery Time: 6 to 8 months for total recovery, depending on the individual
Recovery Steps: Often requires physical therapy and strength training

Condition: Chronic overuse muscle injury
Cause: Often occupation-related
Treatment: Continued evaluation and a proactive plan by your physician
Treatment steps: Physical therapy, strength training, workplace evaluation

Injury: Herniated disk in the spine
Cause: Bending or twisting movements
Treatment: If necessary, a herniated disk can be treated through microdisectomy (surgery under a microscope)
Recovery Time: 4 to 6 weeks, depending on the individual
Recovery Steps: Gradually increase walking activity, avoiding twisting or bending of back, possible physical therapy

Condition: Spinal stenosis (narrowing of spinal canal, typically degenerative)
Treatment: Epidural steroid injection
Treatment Steps: Continued evaluation and monitoring of condition for improvement

How will the Center for Rehabilitation assist in my recovery?

Everyone is eager to return to normal activity as soon as possible after an injury or surgery. But patience is essential. The recovery process must never be hastened at the risk of your health or body. Our physicians are dedicated to helping you complete your recovery as quickly as your body and health allow. The Center has special assets and programs designed to help ensure safe, rapid recovery from injuries or surgery.

One of our most important assets is our staff physiatrists. A physiatrist is trained in physical medicine and rehabilitation, a medical specialty dedicated to restoring optimal function to people with injuries. The Center currently has seven physiatrists on staff . Our physiatrists are specialists in diagnosing medical conditions involving the musculoskeletal system, even when standard tests fail. After diagnosing the problem the physiatrist will direct your treatment team, whether the treatment involves surgery or working with a physical therapist or an athletic trainer.

After Center physicians have treated your injury or condition, often the affected area will need to be reconditioned or trained. A physical therapist will play a crucial role in this process, making sure you do not re-injure yourself or worsen a condition.

The Center also has developed the “Step Down Program,” offered jointly offer by The Center and the Athletic Club of Bend. Physical therapists and personal trainers will work closely with your doctor in developing and following a program to assist in your recovery and help prevent future injuries.

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